EUSES Spreadsheet Problems for Teachers

Pre-Algebra

These problems were created as part of the EUSES research studies about teaching students to use spreadsheets. The full archive of problems can be found at the EUSES Spreadsheet Education Problems page.

They have proven useful and helpful to students so we post them here for free use by teachers. Primarily these problems are of the level of middle to high school students and feature math concepts taught through the use of spreadsheets.

Please feel free to send us your comments: For general comments about the EUSES Consortium or the web page eusesconsortium@eecs.oregonstate.edu and for comments about the problems niessm@onid.orst.edu

M & M Activity

Mathematics Concepts

  • Average

Spreadsheet Skills

  • Summation function
  • Average function

Files

Hand Dominance

Mathematics Concepts

  • Pattern recognition through analyzing graphs

Spreadsheet Skills

  • Graphing

Files

Hermione Shopping

Mathematics Concepts

  • Estimating and basic algebraic operations

Spreadsheet Skills

  • Relative referencing and basic general formula entry

Files

Hogwarts Expansion

Mathematics Concepts

  • Basic algebraic operations

Spreadsheet Skills

  • Relative and absolute referencing
  • IF statements

Files

Pay Plan

Mathematics Concepts

  • Addition
  • Percentage
  • Cost Estimation

Spreadsheet Skills

  • Sum

Files

Vacation Plan

Mathematics Concepts

  • Distance = Velocity * Time
  • Cost Estimation

Spreadsheet Skills

  • Cell reference
  • Sum
  • Dynamic function

Files

Number Trick

Mathematics Concepts

  • Order of Operation

Spreadsheet Skills

  • Cell reference
  • "=" sign
  • Dynamic function

Files

Any Pattern in Circular Objects

Mathematics Concepts

  • Relationship between the circumference and the diameter of a circle

Spreadsheet Skills

  • Relative referencing
  • Basic algebraic operations
  • Formula entry
  • Graphing

Files

Marbles

Mathematics Concepts

  • Graphical relationship between mass and volume data for a set of marbles

Spreadsheet Skills

  • Relative referencing

Files

Mystery Town Wind Frequency

Mathematics Concepts

  • Simple algebraic operations

Spreadsheet Skills

  • "SUM" and "ROUND" functions
  • Radar graph

Files

Design a Magic Square

Mathematics Concepts

  • Basic algebraic operations
  • A math puzzle

Spreadsheet Skills

  • Relative referencing
  • Basic formula entry for a algebraic operations

Files

Bellagio

Mathematics Concepts

  • Common Multiples

Spreadsheet Skills

  • "IF" and "MODE" function
  • Absolute cell reference

Files

The San Diego Zoo and the Oil Crisis

Mathematics Concepts

  • Percentage
  • Simple algebraic operations

Spreadsheet Skills

  • Absolute and relative referencing
  • The "SUM" function

Files

The Library at Hogwarts

Mathematics Concepts

  • Problem Solving
  • Decision making using basic
  • Algebraic operations

Spreadsheet Skills

  • The "ROUND" function
  • Absolute and relative referencing
  • Bar graph
  • Pie charts and graphing labeling

Files

One Inch Tall

Mathematics Concepts

  • Ratio

Spreadsheet Skills

  • The "ROUND" and "SHEET!" functions
  • Simple algebraic operations
  • Absolute and relative referencing

Files

Grade-Book Problem

Mathematics Concepts

  • Percentage and its real-life applications

Spreadsheet Skills

  • The "SUM", "ROUND" and nested "IF" functions
  • Inequality symbol application

Files